A study from the University of California Irvine along with colleagues
at the Reeve-Irvine Research Center shows that using stem cells to
repair spinal cord injuries and damage do not cause further damage. The
research was first reported in the current issue of Regenerative
Medicine.

“Establishing the safety of implanted embryonic stem cells is crucial
before we can move forward with testing these treatments in clinical
trials,” said Hans Keirstead, an associate professor of anatomy and
neurobiology and co-director of UCI’s Stem Cell Research Center. “We
must always remember that a human clinical trial is an experiment and,
going into it, we need to assure ourselves as best as we can that the
treatment will not cause harm. This study is an important step in that
direction.”

In this study, the researchers found that rats with mild or severe
spinal cord injuries were able to receive therapy treatment that
originated from human embryonic stem cells. The rats did not show and
visible injury or any ill side effects due to the treatment. This study
further confirms the same results as it has been replicated by four
other laboratories around the world.